No real interest on the trade show booth

So there you are standing on your booth.
Waiting for the next visitor to address to you.
However there is no real interest on the booth.

Marketing has been spending money on getting the best spot on the floor.
There have been many discussions on the booth design and banners.
However there is no real interest on the booth.

Marketing has emailed thousands of people a free entrance voucher.
They even promised a gift if someone would visit the booth with this invitation.
However there is no real interest on the booth.

The expenses for travel and lodging must be high with all these employees on the booth.
Don’t count the wasted hours from all those employees.
However there is no real interest on the booth.

The Black Berry keeps on buzzing keeping you up to date with the outside real world.
Good there are still prospects and customers emailing and calling you.
However there is no real interest on the booth.

The trade fair neighbors aren’t doing any better as there is little venue.
People do pass by but they are not of your target market.
However there is no real interest on the booth.

You open your portable connecting to Wifi in order to respond to your emails.
Now you have something to do.
However there is no real interest on the booth.

A visitor enters the booth and several sales reps jump on him.
Although he asks the wrong questions, they do keep on talking in order to keep him on the booth.
However there is no real interest on the booth.

You wish you where in the office working through all your sales administration.
Or in your car on the way to the next potential customer.
However there is no real interest on the booth.

Where are all those interesting leads you had before on trade shows?
They probably are in their office searching the Internet for information.
However there is no real interest on the booth.

You hope next year management takes the decision not to be at the trade show anymore.
So you can do your business as usually.
Meanwhile the company’s website is getting all the interest instead.

Why are companies still spending time, capacity and money on trade shows during this Internet era?